Mamphela A. Ramphele

Mamphela A. Ramphele "was born on 28 December 1947, near Pietersburg in South Africa's Northern Province. She qualified as a medical doctor at the University of Natal in 1972. She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Cape Town, a BCom degree in Administration from the University of South Africa and diplomas in Tropical Health & and Hygiene and Public Health from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is the author of two books, the co-author of another and the editor of two more.

"Dr Ramphele started her career as a student activist in the Black Consciousness Movement. She has worked as a doctor, a civil rights leader, a community development worker, an academic researcher, a university administrator and serves on the boards of major corporations and non-governmental organisations. She joined UCT as a Research Fellow in 1986, and was appointed a Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 1991.

"From 1977 to 1984 Dr Ramphele was banished by the previous government to Lenyenye near Tzaneen. There she continued her work with the rural poor and established the Ithuseng Community Health Programme.

"She has received numerous prestigious national and international awards, including three honorary doctorates, acknowledging her scholarship, service to the community, and her leading role in raising development issues and spearheading projects aimed at the upliftment of the most disadvantaged sectors of the community in South Africa.

"In 1984 Dr Ramphele received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Hunter College of City of New York, and in May 1991 Tufts University awarded her an Honorary Doctor of Science degree for her professional commitment and devotion to the health and social welfare of the poor in South Africa. She also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Natal and a Medal of Distinction from Barnard College in the United States, where she was elected to the Institute of Medicine. A former fellow of the Bunting Institute, she was elected an honorary member of Alpha & Iota Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa at Radcliffe and Harvard Colleges." “

Mamphela Ramphele joined the Board of Anglo American "on 25 April 2006. She is a member of the Nomination and S&SD Committees. Dr Ramphele is the chairperson of Circle Capital Ventures, a black empowerment company, and a non-executive director of MTN Group Limited. She was formerly co-chair of the Global Commission on International Migration, a World Bank managing director and vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town."

In March 2006: "Former World Bank MD and Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town Mamphela Ramphele is set to join the board of mining and natural resources group Anglo American as a nonexecutive director."


 * Director, Open Society Foundation of South Africa
 * Director, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
 * Former Director, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
 * Former Trustee, Rockefeller Foundation
 * Trustee, Bibliotheca Alexandria
 * Trustee, Nelson Mandela Foundation
 * Former Director, African Wildlife Foundation
 * Non-executive Director, Anglo American
 * Advisory Board, Nelson Mandela Children's Foundation
 * Patron, Desmond Tutu Peace Trust (S.A.)